Bulgaria's Capital Beltway Ready in 20 Months

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, and Regional Minister, Rosen Plevneliev, launched Sunday repair works and reconstruction of the southern loop of the capital Sofia's beltway.

"Today's event shows that many things can happen with or without Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, while this particular one would never happen without me, not in the next 20-30 years. Lots of money has been circulating and made here from these body shops and gas stations. People, who knew the beltway will expand, redistributed the adjacent land plots years ago and now the State must pay huge amounts to get them back," Borisov said.

According to the PM, the cost to expropriate the land around the beltway reached BGN 82 M. In order to avoid paying this amount to land owners, the design of the road has been changed to include an overpass going above the plots in question. Borisov said, however, financing is secured and the southern loop work will be completed in 20 months, along with works on installing modern sewage in nearby developments.

"We must be proud that the largest beltway in Bulgaria – the capital's is ready. The contract price for the southern loop is much below budget," Plevneliev told the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR.

The value of the construction works is estimated at BGN 45 M with financing from the EU Regional Development program.